Hôtel Solvay, Brussels (Belgium)

The Hôtel Solvay is an imposing large mansion that is situated on the major thoroughfare of Avenue Louise (Louizalaan in Dutch) in Ixelles (Elsene in Dutch), south central Brussels in Belgium.

It was designed by Belgian architect Victor Horta and built between 1898 and 1900 on account of wealthy chemist Armand Solvay, hence the name, in the Art Nouveau style.

Solvay spared no pains as regards his future home and afforded Horta full latitude over the design and materials required, the latter’s stamp evident down to the furniture, tableware, carpets and even the very doorbell.

The edifice and most of its content was salvaged from demolition and decay courtesy of the Wittamer family, who acquired the property to set up their haute couture, in the 1950s.

Antwerp Central (Antwerpen-Centraal) railway station virtual tour

Daniël Ost, Brussels

This is the fabulous Art Nouveau facade of Daniël Ost’s flower house, designed by Paul Hankar and Adolphe Crespin in 1895, on Rue Royale in Brussels.

Born in 1955, Ost is a renowned Belgian floral artist and designer as well as garden architect, once called ‘world’s leading flower designer’ by CBS News, and along with his wife Marie-Anne founded ‘Floreal’ in 1979 which evolved into a major international flower house.